Puzzle greeting card

ABSTRACT

A puzzle greeting card is provided. The puzzle greeting card includes a character search puzzle formed on a first portion of the greeting card, and a hidden message puzzle formed on a second portion of the greeting card. The character search puzzle includes a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within the plurality of characters. The character search puzzle is completed by finding and encircling the listed character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle is completed using the un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/794,740, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to character search puzzles, and more particularly is related to themed greeting cards including themed character search puzzles for the card recipient to complete.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Greeting cards are a popular way to send sentiments and well wishes to a recipient for an array of occasions from birthdays to Valentine's Day. Designers and manufacturers of greeting cards look for ways to set their line of greeting cards apart from the rest.

Puzzles are also a popular past time, with word search, seek, find puzzles being of particular interests. The word search puzzle was created by Norman E. Gibat and published on Mar. 1, 1968. However, other versions of this type of puzzle were also created by Spanish puzzle maker Pedro Ocon de Oro much earlier.

The popularity of both the greeting card and the puzzle has seldom been combined to convey a themed message to a card recipient. Although there is known art of a greeting card to contain more than a text message such as the jumbled segment greeting card of U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,703, issued to Roger J. Lenkoff on Nov. 16, 1993, and the crossword puzzle greeting card of U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,964, issued to Roy S. Douglas on Oct. 6, 1998, there has not been a character puzzle combined in a greeting card that reveals an additional hidden character message, word or phrase and/or a hidden image.

Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the relevant field to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide puzzles and puzzle greeting cards that include multiple, related puzzles to be completed by a recipient.

The first puzzle is a character search puzzle wherein the recipient searches through a plurality of preprinted characters arranged in a group, which may consist of letters, numbers, and/or symbols, on the front cover surface of an illustrated greeting card, looking for words or character groupings provided in a preprinted list also on the card's front cover surface. The character groupings or words may be arranged within the preprinted character group in a vertical, horizontal, ascending, descending, or diagonal manner, or backwards. When found, the recipient circles each of the character groupings or words.

Once all of the character groupings or words from the list are found and circled, the remaining unused characters may be used to solve a second puzzle on the card's interior surface. The recipient looks for unused characters or letters starting on the top left corner and works across from left to right and top to bottom of the character puzzle. The unused characters are entered into provided spaces in the card's interior surface. If the unused characters are letters, they will reveal a hidden word or phrase. If the unused characters are numbers or symbols, the card recipient will use a provided key to decipher the themed message.

In some embodiments, the found characters from the initial puzzle will be arranged in the character group so as to create an image for the recipient to see.

Briefly described, one embodiment of the disclosure, among others, can be implemented as follows. A puzzle greeting card includes a character search puzzle formed on a first portion of the greeting card, and a hidden message puzzle formed on a second portion of the greeting card. The character search puzzle includes a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within the plurality of characters. The character search puzzle may be completed by finding and encircling the listed character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle may be completed using un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle.

In another embodiment, a themed puzzle is provided that includes a character search puzzle formed in a first region, and a hidden message puzzle formed in a second region. The character search puzzle includes a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within said plurality of characters. The character search puzzle may be completed by finding and encircling the listed character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle may be completed using un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle.

In yet another embodiment, a method for making a puzzle greeting card is provided that includes: providing a character search puzzle on a first portion of a greeting card, said character search puzzle comprising a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within said plurality of characters; and providing a hidden message puzzle on a second portion of the greeting card, wherein said character search puzzle is completed by finding and encircling said character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle is completed using un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the unsolved character search puzzle using the letter character format;

FIG. 2 is a view of the interior surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the unsolved interior character puzzle (the card's hidden message puzzle);

FIG. 3 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the character search puzzle in the letter character format in its solved state;

FIG. 4 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the un-encircled characters of the character search puzzle, to be used for the hidden message puzzle;

FIG. 5 is a view of both the front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the un-encircled characters of the character search puzzle and a view of the interior surface of the puzzle greeting card showing the solved interior hidden message puzzle, both in the letter character format, illustrating how the front cover character search puzzle answers the interior hidden message puzzle;

FIG. 6 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the unsolved character search puzzle in the number character format;

FIG. 7 is a view of the interior surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the unsolved interior character puzzle (the card's hidden message puzzle), and a decipher key and accompanying answer spaces;

FIG. 8 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the character search puzzle, in the number character format, in its solved state;

FIG. 9 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the un-encircled numbers of the character search puzzle, to be used for the hidden message puzzle;

FIG. 10 is a view of both the front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the un-encircled characters of the character search puzzle and a view of the interior surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the solved interior hidden message puzzle, both in the number character format, illustrating how the front cover character puzzle is used to solve the interior hidden message puzzle;

FIG. 11 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the unsolved character search puzzle using the letter character format;

FIG. 12 is a view of the interior surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the unsolved interior character puzzle (the card's hidden message puzzle);

FIG. 13 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the character search puzzle, in the letter character format, in its solved state;

FIG. 14 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the un-encircled characters of the character search puzzle, to be used to solve the hidden message puzzle;

FIG. 15 is a view of both the front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the un-encircled characters of the character search puzzle and a view of the interior surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the solved interior hidden message puzzle, illustrating how the front cover character search puzzle is used to solve the interior hidden message puzzle;

FIG. 16 is a view of the outer front cover surface of a rectangular shaped puzzle greeting card showing the hidden image as it is revealed by solving the front cover surface character search puzzle using the letter character format.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a rectangular shaped greeting card formed from heavy weight paper or other suitable material and folded on itself 1. The greeting card in this configuration has four panels, an illustrated front cover surface 2, a left side interior surface 3, a right side interior surface 4, and a back cover surface 5. The illustrated front cover surface 2 incorporates one version of the unsolved character search puzzle 6 for illustration purposes only and does not construe any limiting sense. The unsolved character search puzzle 6 features the character group 7 and the list of character groupings 8 all in the letter character format.

FIG. 2 shows the corresponding themed interior surfaces of the FIG. 1 greeting card, the left side interior surface 3 and the right side interior surface 4. The left side interior surface 3 shows the unsolved hidden message puzzle 9 using the letter character format. The right side interior surface 4 shows a themed textural message 10. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the greeting card with the unsolved puzzles as it is first received by the recipient.

FIG. 3 shows again the greeting card front cover surface 2, the character search puzzle 6 with its list of character groupings 8, both in the letter character format. This drawing shows however, the solved character group 11 in the letter character format with the words from character groupings 8 being found and circled 12. The character groupings 8 were hidden throughout character group 11 in a vertical, horizontal, ascending and descending manner, and backwards.

FIG. 4 shows again the greeting card illustrated front cover surface 2, the character search puzzle 6, the list of character groupings 8, and the solved character group 11, all in the letter character format. With character group 11 solved, the remaining unused (i.e. un-encircled) characters 13, in this case letters, convey a hidden message for the card recipient to complete. The unused characters 13 in FIG. 4 are the letters P, A, R, T, R, I, D, G, E, P, A, R, T, R, I, D, G, E, P, A, R, T, R, I, D, G, E, P, A, R, T, R, I.

In FIG. 5, the recipient solves the hidden message character puzzle 32 by starting with the top left foremost letter from the unused characters 13, in this case, the letter P 14 and places it in the first open space 15 in the hidden message puzzle 32 on the card's left side interior surface 3. The recipient continues placing the unused characters consecutively into the open spaces: A 16 to space 17, R 18 to space 19, T 20 to space 21, R 22 to space 23, I 24 to space 25, D 26 to space 27, G 28 to space 29, E 30 to space 31, and so on, until all of the open spaces 32 are filled. With all spaces 32 filled, the hidden message puzzle 32 is completed, thereby forming a message (e.g. “PARTRIDGE”).

As shown in FIG. 6, another embodiment includes a rectangular shaped greeting card formed from heavy weight paper or other suitable material and folded on itself 33. The greeting card in this configuration has four panels, an illustrated front cover surface 34, a left side interior surface 35, a right side interior surface 36, and a back cover surface 37. The illustrated front cover surface 34 incorporates another version of the unsolved character search puzzle 38, in the number character format, for illustration purposes only and does not construe any limiting sense. The unsolved character search puzzle 38 features the character group 39 using a number character format and the list of character groupings 40, again using a number character format.

FIG. 7 shows the corresponding themed interior surfaces of the FIG. 6 greeting card, the left side interior surface 35 and the right side interior surface 36. The left side interior surface 35 shows the unsolved hidden message puzzle 41. It also displays a decipher key 42 needed to solve the numerical character format of character group 39, as well as spaces 43 to place the deciphered code. The decipher key 42 correlates characters (e.g., numbers) used in the character search puzzle 38 to other characters (e.g., letters) used to solve the hidden message puzzle 43. The right side interior surface 36 shows a themed textural message 44. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the greeting card with the unsolved puzzles as it is first received by the recipient.

FIG. 8 shows again the greeting card illustrated front cover surface 34, the character search puzzle 38 in numerical format, with its list of character groupings 40 in numerical format. This drawing shows however, the solved character group 45 with the numbers from character groupings 40 being found and circled 46. The character groupings 40 were hidden throughout character group 45 in a vertical, horizontal, ascending and descending manner, and backwards.

FIG. 9 shows again the greeting card front cover surface 34, the character search puzzle 38, the list of character groupings 40, and the solved character group 45, all in the number character format. With character group 45 solved, the remaining unused characters 47, in this case numbers, convey a hidden message for the card recipient to complete. The unused characters 47 in FIG. 9 are the numbers 19, 21, 13, 13, 5, 18, 6, 21, 14, 19, 21, 13, 13, 5, 18, 6, 21, 14, 19, 21, 13, 13.

As shown in FIG. 10, the recipient solves the hidden message puzzle 43 by starting with the top left foremost number from the unused characters 47 (in this case, the number ‘19’) and places it in the first open space 49 in a series of spaces 41 provided on the cards left side interior surface 35. The recipient continues placing the unused characters consecutively into the open spaces: 21 50 to space 51, 13 52 to space 53, 13 54 to space 55, 5 56 to space 57, 18 58 to space 59, 6 60 to space 61, 21 62 to space 63, 14 64 to space 65, and so on, until all of the open spaces 41 are filled. Then, using the decipher key 42, the recipient may solve the hidden message puzzle 43 by placing the letters corresponding to the numbers in spaces 41 into the provided spaces provided for the hidden message 43: 19 49 changes to S 66, 21 51 changes to U 67, 13 53 changes to M 68, 13 55 changes to M 69, 5 57 changes to E 70, 18 59 changes to R 71, 6 61 changes to F 72, 21 63 changes to U 73, 14 65 changes to N 74. With all spaces of the hidden message 43 filled, the hidden message puzzle 43 is completed, thereby forming a message (e.g. “SUMMER FUN”).

In another embodiment, FIG. 11 shows a rectangular shaped greeting card formed from heavy weight paper or other suitable material and folded on itself 75. The greeting card in this configuration has four panels, an illustrated front cover surface 76, a left side interior surface 77, a right side interior surface 78, and a back cover surface 79. The illustrated front cover surface 76 incorporates one version of the unsolved character search puzzle 80, in the letter character format, for illustration purposes only and does not construe any limiting sense. The unsolved character search puzzle 80 features the character group 81 and the list of character groupings 82. While the embodiment of FIG. 11 is shown using letter characters, it may alternatively use numerical or other characters as described above.

FIG. 12 shows the corresponding themed interior surfaces of the FIG. 11 greeting card, the left side interior surface 77 and the right side interior surface 78. The left side interior surface 77 shows the unsolved hidden message puzzle 83 using the letter character format. The right side interior surface 78 shows a themed textural message 84. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the greeting card with the unsolved puzzles as it is first received by the recipient.

FIG. 13 shows again the greeting card front cover surface 76, the character search puzzle 80 with its list of character groupings 82, both in the letter character format. This drawing shows however, the solved character group 85 with the words from character groupings 82 being found and circled 86. The character groupings 82 were hidden throughout character group 85 in a vertical, diagonal, ascending and descending manner, and backwards.

FIG. 14 shows again the greeting card illustrated front cover surface 76, the character search puzzle 80, the list of character groupings 82, and the solved character group 85, all in the letter character format. With character group 85 solved, the remaining unused characters 87, in this case letters, convey a hidden message for the card recipient to complete. The unused characters 87 in FIG. 14 are the letters: T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P, I, D, S, A, R, R, O, W, T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P, I, D, S, A, R, R, O, W, T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P, I, D, S, A, R, R, O, W, T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P, I, D, S, A, R, R, O, W, T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P, I, D, S, A, R, R, O, W, T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P, I, D, S, A, R, R, O, W, T, H, E, S, W, E, E, T, S, T, I, N, G, O, F, C, U, P.

In FIG. 15, the recipient solves the hidden message puzzle 83 by starting with the top left foremost letter from the unused characters 87, in this case, the letter T 88 and places it in the first open space 89 in the hidden message puzzle 83 on the card's left side interior surface 77. The recipient continues placing the unused characters consecutively into the open spaces: H 90 to space 91, E 92 to space 93, S 94 to space 95, W 96 to space 97, E 98 to space 99, E 100 to space 101, T 102 to space 103, S 104 to space 105, T 106 to space 107, I 108 to space 109, N 110 to space 111, G 112 to space 113, O 114 to space 115, F 116 to space 117, C 118 to space 119, U 120 to space 121, P 122 to space 123, I 124 to space 125, D 126 to space 127, S 128 to space 129, A 130 to space 131, R 132 to space 133, R 134 to space 135, O 136 to space 137, W 138 to space 139, and so on, until all of the open spaces 83 are filled. With all spaces of the hidden message puzzle 83 filled, the hidden message puzzle 83 is completed, thereby forming a message (e.g. “THE SWEET STING OF CUPID'S ARROW”).

As shown in FIG. 16, the listed character groupings 82 may be placed in a distinct pattern 140 that only becomes visible within the solved character grouping 85 after the character groupings 82 are found and circled 86 by the recipient. In this instance, the pattern 140 forms an image of Cupid's arrow, which coincides with the themed front cover surface 76 image of “VALENTINE” and the themed hidden message puzzle 83 in FIG. 15 of “The Sweet Sting of Cupid's Arrow.” It should be noted that while there exist word search computer generators, such computer generators are unable to place the character groupings 82 into a recognizable pattern, such as provided herein.

While the puzzles provided herein are primarily discussed with respect to greeting cards, such puzzles need not accompany a greeting card, but may be provided alone, or on any other media. Further, the puzzle greeting cards provided herein may be electronic greeting cards. That is, rather than being fixed to a tangible, folded material, the puzzle greeting cards of the present disclosure may be provided to a recipient through electronic means, such as through email, a website or the like. The recipient may access and display the electronic puzzle greeting card via any computer device, such as a personal computer, mobile computer device or the like.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A puzzle greeting card comprising: a character search puzzle formed on a first portion of the greeting card, said character search puzzle comprising a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within said plurality of characters; and a hidden message puzzle formed on a second portion of the greeting card, wherein said character search puzzle is completed by finding and encircling said character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle is completed using un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle.
 2. The puzzle greeting card of claim 1, wherein the characters comprise letters and the hidden message puzzle comprises a series of spaces, said hidden message puzzle being completed by sequentially filling in the spaces with the un-encircled letters, thereby forming a message.
 3. The puzzle greeting card of claim 1, wherein the hidden message puzzle comprises a series of spaces and a decipher key that correlates characters from the character search puzzle with letters to be used in the hidden message puzzle, said hidden message puzzle being completed by sequentially filling in the spaces with letters correlated with the un-encircled characters, thereby forming a message.
 4. The puzzle greeting card of claim 1, wherein the greeting card comprises a folded card, wherein said first portion comprises an outer surface of the folded card and said second portion comprises an inner surface of the folded card.
 5. The puzzle greeting card of claim 1, wherein the puzzle greeting card comprises an electronic greeting card.
 6. The puzzle greeting card of claim 2, wherein the greeting card is associated with a particular theme, and wherein the character search puzzle and the message formed from the completed hidden message puzzle are relevant to the theme.
 7. The puzzle greeting card of claim 6, wherein the encircled character groupings of the completed character search puzzle form an image that is relevant to the theme of the greeting card.
 8. The puzzle greeting card of claim 3, wherein the greeting card is associated with a particular theme, and wherein the character search puzzle and the message formed from the completed hidden message puzzle are relevant to the theme.
 9. The puzzle greeting card of claim 8, wherein the encircled character groupings of the completed character search puzzle form an image that is relevant to the theme of the greeting card.
 10. A themed puzzle comprising: a character search puzzle formed in a first region, said character search puzzle comprising a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within said plurality of characters; and a hidden message puzzle formed in a second region, wherein said character search puzzle is completed by finding and encircling said character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle is completed using un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle.
 11. The themed puzzle of claim 10, wherein the characters comprise letters and the hidden message puzzle comprises a series of spaces, said hidden message puzzle being completed by sequentially filling in the spaces with the un-encircled letters, thereby forming a message.
 12. The themed puzzle of claim 10, wherein the hidden message puzzle comprises a series of spaces and a decipher key that correlates characters from the character search puzzle with letters to be used in the hidden message puzzle, said hidden message puzzle being completed by sequentially filling in the spaces with letters correlated with the un-encircled characters, thereby forming a message.
 13. The themed puzzle of claim 10, wherein the themed puzzle comprises an electronic puzzle.
 14. The themed puzzle of claim 10, wherein the encircled character groupings of the completed character search puzzle form an image that is relevant to the theme of the puzzle.
 15. A method for making a puzzle greeting card comprising: providing a character search puzzle on a first portion of a greeting card, said character search puzzle comprising a plurality of characters and a list of character groupings found within said plurality of characters; and providing a hidden message puzzle on a second portion of the greeting card, wherein said character search puzzle is completed by finding and encircling said character groupings, and the hidden message puzzle is completed using un-encircled characters from the completed character search puzzle. 